Investigating factors that may contribute to absenteeism among bursary students at a selected nursing campus in KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that may have contributed to absenteeism among bursary students undertaking a four-year Nursing Diploma course (R425), and the extent to which these factors impacted on students’ absenteeism at a selected nursing campus in KwaZulu-Natal. METHODOLOGY The study adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing a non –experimental descriptive design. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires consisting of closed and open-ended questions. Data analyses were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21(SPSS- 21). One hundred and twenty-six bursary students from the first year to the third year of training participated in the study. FINDINGS The study revealed that absenteeism at the nursing campus under study existed at all levels of student training, and that it occurred more in the clinical area than in the college area. Clinical factors identified included escorting very ill patients without indemnity, working late shifts (19h00) before a day off, allocation to one work area without rotation, and a lack of appreciation for a job well done and criticism. College factors such as stipend, transport problems, and lecturers and their teaching methods did not have any impact on student absenteeism.